Category Archives: parenting

college prep, parenting, senioritis, Uncategorized

How to Help Your Senior Fight Senioritis

senioritis

Senioritis is a disease contracted by most high school seniors. Its onset might be hard to recognize because it starts innocently. But once the disease has taken hold it can have a devastating effect on your senior’s future college aspirations. As with any disease, knowing the symptoms is the key to an early diagnosis and treatment.

All kidding aside, however, senioritis is a very real problem for most students, especially if they have already been accepted early decision or early action. They are coming into the home stretch and it’s only natural for them to try to rest on their laurels, so to speak. But every parent needs to be vigilant and act to stop it before it’s too late.

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admissions, college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting

Weighing Your College Options

college options

It’s that time of year when seniors will be weighing their college options. Choices will be made as parents and students evaluate colleges who offered admission.

The long wait is over and it’s time to make a decision. Which college will your student attend? This decision feels like the most important decision in his life up to this point and will weigh heavily on his mind and yours over the next month.

Before your teen makes the decision, however, you should weigh your college options. You would never purchase a home without determining its value, its fit for your family, or even its location. This college decision should be approached in the same manner. And to complicate matters, the decision has to be made in a timely manner—the National Candidate’s Reply Date is May 1st.

If your student didn’t get an offer of admission from his first or even second choice college, or he is accepted without enough financial aid, it’s time to re-evaluate the colleges on his list. Your teen should take a closer look at those schools on the list that weren’t on top. If he did his homework before applying, these schools should be more than sloppy seconds.

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academics, college books, college prep, life lessons, parenting

Books for Students and Their Parents

books

My daughter loves books. Her joy of reading began in grade school and she still loves reading and collecting books. Books never get old and there are so many to choose from. If your student is into digital versions of books, there are many programs available as well.

I’ve done the research for you and each link has multiple suggestions for you and your student. I hope these books are helpful and will be great additions to your library.

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mental health, parenting

Focusing on Your Student’s Mental Health

mental health

A parent’s job is to raise children who can function independently in the adult world. But getting them to that stage can be a challenge. In the modern age, we don’t have a rite of passage, so to speak, so young people often coast into adulthood, without actually ever getting there. What’s more, there are more pressures on mental health than ever before. 

North Kansas City Schools highlights the issue in full. It points out that kids’ mental health was bad before the pandemic because of things like substance abuse, depression, bullying and exam stress. COVID-19 has made that worse by adding to the angst and fear. For many kids, restrictions have been in place for as long as they can remember, and they are wondering whether it will ever change. 

Parents, though, don’t have to sit idly by and watch their children’s mental health deteriorate. Instead, they can take action right now. Here’s what to do:

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college planning, parenting, study tools

5 Common Study Distractions (and how to help)

study

If you want to help your college-bound child learn how to study effectively as possible so they can reach their full potential now, and later when they head off to college, one of the best things you can do is help them to learn how they can deal with the various distractions that could make studying difficult.

With that in mind, here are some of the most common study distractions and what you can do about them:

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college planning, college prep, parenting, Uncategorized

Supportive Parenting During College Prep

supportive parenting

The teenage years are a challenge for parents, and many find it hard to prepare for their kids going to college. In this guide, we’ll discuss some steps you can take to practice supportive parenting as your children get ready for their next adventure.

Learning and tuition

The years that lead up to college are among the most intensive and stressful for children and their parents. The workload can get heavy, and many teens feel under pressure to perform. With exams and entry tests looming and a steady stream of assignments to complete, it’s hugely beneficial for parents to play a supportive role in learning and tuition. Some parents may want to take an active role at this point, while others may feel more comfortable letting their children study with friends, teachers and tutors.

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online learning, parenting, student health, Uncategorized

Self-Care Habits During Online Learning

online learning

For many parents, online learning is a blessing as it gives their teens a chance to keep their academic work on track when stuck at home. However, experts also agree that online learning can impact a teen’s mental health by increasing stress and heightened anxiety about keeping up to date with school work. So, is your teen resorting to online studies? Encourage them to adopt the following self-care habits to keep them healthy mentally and physically. 

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career colleges, careers, college guidance, community service, parenting, volunteering

What To Do If College Won’t Do

college

This may seem like an odd topic to introduce on a parenting for college blog. But it must be said. Sometimes college just won’t do. If you are one of those parents whose child isn’t thrilled with the prospect of college, I’m here for you. Not every child should go to college—there, I said it.

No college doesn’t necessarily mean your child is stuck in a low-paying job for the rest of their life. They have options. These options can provide your child with a bright future and many who pursue these paths often outpace those who went to college.

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careers, parenting

Helping Your Student with Career Choices

career choices

When kids are in college, they often lack the life experiences and self-awareness necessary to determine the best job route for them.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to assist your child in making these career choices.

Here are some pointers to assist your student in making a career decision.

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college housing, parenting

Purchasing Off-Campus Housing for Your College Student

off-campus housing

As a parent of an incoming college freshman, you’re likely feeling the stress of how to provide your child with the best housing. While most students choose to live on campus, some parents make the decision to purchase a home near campus for the sole purpose of housing their student while in college.

I had a friend that purchased housing near the campus of Texas A&M. Freshman housing was limited, and they factored in the cost savings over the years of on-campus housing and food. Once their student graduated, they kept the home as rental property and still rent it out to college students each year as off-campus housing.

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